‘Illegal’ firecrackers destroyed

CEBU, Philippines - The police yesterday morning destroyed at the Police Regional Office-7 quadrangle more than P200,000 worth of illegally sold firecrackers confiscated over the last two weeks.

Chief Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan, Police Regional Office-7 director, said destruction of the confiscated firecrackers was the pro-duct of coordinated efforts among the different police units in the region in the campaign against illegally sold firecrackers.

He said the police are just after the welfare of the public, especially that firecrackers pose a real danger to the lives of the public, especially children.  He said that in most incidents of injuries caused by firecrackers, the victims are the children.

He also urged parents not to purchase and not to permit their children to buy firecrackers for them to be safe during the New Year celebration.

Instead of welcoming the New Year with a bang, Gaerlan said, the people are encouraged to celebrate it with merrymaking.

“Videoke na lang, wag na paputok,” he said.

Only the South Road Properties in Cebu City and Barangay Babag in Lapu-Lapu City were designated as firecracker zones by the Firearms, Explosives, Security Service Agency and Guards Supervisory Section (FESSAGS) in Central Visayas.

Gaerlan said firecrackers sold outside these areas, including those in malls and public markets, will be confiscated by the police.

The firecrackers that were destroyed yesterday were confiscated from December 16 to 28 in the ci-ties of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, and in other  areas in the provinces of Bohol, Cebu, and Siquijor.

Also, as deterrent against indiscriminate fi-ring of guns, Gaerlan directed his men to conduct mobile patrols during the New Year.  He also urged the public to video-capture people who indiscriminately fire their firearms to serve as evidence in the filing of appropriate charges.

“We are reminding gun holders not to fire their weapons…. Kung hindi man ang kapitbahay ang tamaan some other people might get hurt,” Gaerlan said.

Meanwhile, Health Emergency Management Staff-7 (HEMS) Chief Expedito Medalla, said he welcomed the initiative done by PRO-7 against firecrackers.

He said that as far as the health department is concerned, they are trying to educate the public so that incidents of firecracker-related injuries will decrease comes New Year tomorrow.

He said, though, that in anticipation of firecracker-related injuries, all hospitals in the region are on White Alert, adding that should there be a need for amputation, the hospitals are ready.

“Ang atong mga hospital ready na, andam na ang mga gabas ug gunting. Happy ko nga ang kapolisan mihimo og kampanya aning iwas paputok,” Medalla said.

He admitted that it is difficult to totally ban firecrackers, but suggested that manufacturers and workers should be given alternative livelihoods so that they would have a stable income outside the dangerous business of firecrackers manufacturing. — Bryner L. Diaz/RHM (FREEMAN)